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Alice Worth #1
Heart of Malice
The first time Moses Murphy's granddaughter killed on his orders, she was six years old.
For 20 years, she was a prisoner of an organized crime syndicate, forced to use her magic to make Moses the most powerful and feared man on the East Coast. To escape his cruelty, she faked her own death and started a new life as Alice Worth. As a private investigator specializing in cases involving the supernatural, Alice walks a precarious line between atoning for the sins of her grandfather's cabal and keeping her true identity hidden.
Hired to investigate the disappearance of a mysterious object of power, Alice enlists the help of Malcolm, a ghost running from a past as nightmarish as her own. It soon becomes clear the missing object was taken by someone with a dangerous secret and an unknown agenda. When her client is kidnapped, Alice must find her and the object of power before a vengeful killer destroys the city and slaughters thousands - starting with Alice.
Contains mature themes.
For 20 years, she was a prisoner of an organized crime syndicate, forced to use her magic to make Moses the most powerful and feared man on the East Coast. To escape his cruelty, she faked her own death and started a new life as Alice Worth. As a private investigator specializing in cases involving the supernatural, Alice walks a precarious line between atoning for the sins of her grandfather's cabal and keeping her true identity hidden.
Hired to investigate the disappearance of a mysterious object of power, Alice enlists the help of Malcolm, a ghost running from a past as nightmarish as her own. It soon becomes clear the missing object was taken by someone with a dangerous secret and an unknown agenda. When her client is kidnapped, Alice must find her and the object of power before a vengeful killer destroys the city and slaughters thousands - starting with Alice.
Contains mature themes.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 5, 2017
1626 people are currently reading
3963 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Edmonds
26 books827 followersLisa Edmonds was born and raised in Kansas. She studied English and forensic criminology at Wichita State University. After acquiring her Bachelor’s degree, she considered a career in law enforcement as a behavioral analyst before earning a Master's from Wichita State and then a Ph.D. in English from Texas A&M University.
For ten years, she was an associate professor of English at a college in Texas, where she taught a variety of writing and literature courses.
Now a full-time author, she shares a cute little Victorian-style home called the Storybook House with her husband and their cats. She enjoys writing, reading, traveling, spoiling her niece and nephew, and singing karaoke.
For ten years, she was an associate professor of English at a college in Texas, where she taught a variety of writing and literature courses.
Now a full-time author, she shares a cute little Victorian-style home called the Storybook House with her husband and their cats. She enjoys writing, reading, traveling, spoiling her niece and nephew, and singing karaoke.
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June 27, 2017
IT'S ALIVE!!
Taking a risk has its rewards.
***4.5 Stars***
I received a friend request on Goodreads the other day, and while I was checking out her profile I came across a book that caught my eye. Now the cover, while not perfect, was very eye-catching. A strong woman with determination in her eyes has a flash of green fire wrapped around her. The background looks a little dark and gloomy which makes the green fire POP. Now, I won’t say that a cover will make or break a book, but if my attention is grabbed and the blurb is interesting, I’m more than willing to look a little closer. Hmmm…a new author? Hmmm…it’s on NetGalley? Hmmm…a strong heroine, an Alpha shapeshifting werewolf hero, a ghost for a sidekick and a mission that is a race against time? SOLD TO THE SASSY READER, who can’t resist stepping into a world full of magic, lust and adventure.
So, I took a risk on a new author and I’m so bloody glad I did. There is NOTHING better than finding a fantastic new paranormal series. Lisa Edmonds has started a series that grabbed and held my attention. What made it even more amazing is that I didn’t suffer the dreaded boring, dull, snooze-worthy, introduction to a new world. I have been known to struggle with stories that tell me all about the magic, rules, characters and world. Heart of Malice successfully shows me the new world as it’s experienced. With a little info here…and a little info there, I wasn’t bombarded all at once and I got to see it all live and in action. SUCCESS!!
Now, it turns out our new author happens to be a brainiac (in the best possible way). She actually teaches both writing and literature courses. I hope she teaches as she writes because it gives me hope for authors of the future.
Alice is not one to take risks when it comes to her privacy and letting people in. We meet Alice as she hunts down a demon. Things don’t exactly go to plan but at least she’s alive and ready to fight another day. Alice is a private investigator who also happens to be a mage. She uses her powers to help people, while also trying to avoid run-ins with SPEMA (Supernatural and Paranormal Entity Management Agency). Unfortunately, her altercation with the demon brought her face to face with two agents of SPEMA, and that is NOT what Alice wants or needs. We are lead to understand pretty quickly that Alice likes to keep on the down low and bring as little attention to herself as she can. With a little sweet talking…of the abrupt and straightforward kind, Alice manages to avoid being taken in.
From the introduction, we work out that Alice has strong abilities that she seems to want to hide. What follows is learning more about Alice, why she is keeping secrets and how she comes to meet her partner in crime, Malcolm the ghost. We also meet Charles the manipulative vampire who wants to suck her blood, and her new client Natalie, who I really hope to see in future stories as well. Alice has a few more ‘friends’ but I think they’re more acquaintances. Their dedication to Charles (their boss), makes any loyalty to Alice non-existent.
My favourite additional character is Sean. Oh, my lordy. I loved meeting the strong, sexy, Alpha Werewolf who started out as a one-night thing, that turned into something more. Seriously, this guy won my heart from the very start. He is growly, possessive, understanding and sweet…just the way I like them. There is a time in the story where his loyalty and feelings for Alice are questioned .
Well, paranormal romance lovers, I can confirm that I have found a WINNER! Alice Worth is one cool character and I can’t wait to see what adventure she’s up to next. My fingers are crossed that Sean stays in her life, Charles backs the hell off and Malcolm gets to hang around a bit more before he heads to the afterlife.
I’m an Aussie chick who loves to read and review romance, drink coffee, be a Style Setter and stalk David Gandy. To see more of my reviews, fashion, food and pervathons -
February 28, 2025
✅ Some romance
✅ Age gap (about 15 years I think, she’s in her mid-twenties and he’s 42)
✅ Magic
✅ Plot / Investigation
✅(🆗) Pace
✅(🆗) Resolution of the investigation
✅(🆗) Main character
🆗 Hint of a love triangle
❗️❗️Trigger warnings: deaths of parents (past), blood and sacrifice for magic ritual, deaths, people burning, mention of past torture
Alice Worth fled her grandfather’s cabal a few years ago after faking her death, and she now works as a mage private investigator (MPI). When she is contacted about stolen books, Alice decides to take the case, because it seems simple enough, but as soon as she enters her client’s home, she realizes that it is much more complicated than she realized, and it might also be really dangerous. Whatever was stolen is immensely powerful, and what started as a simple investigation to retrieve stolen goods turns into a mage hunt and life-threatening situations.
Alice pretends that she is only a middle-range mage, but it is made clear from the start that she is super powerful, and people would kill to get their hands on her and her power. That being said, I still feel that the real MVP here was her ghost, Malcolm. For the first 75% of the book, he is the one taking down the dangerous wards and replacing them when Alice is busy doing something else, he comes up with the new spells Alice needs for her investigation and even does some recon work for her since he is invisible, on top of saving Alice’s life. I feel that he did all the heavy lifting, but she was the one portrayed as the badass mage nobody should ever cross.
The magic and the investigation part of the plot were good, but the ending, while having action and tension, fell a little flat for me. The culprits are eventually caught, but the way they just explained every detail of their evil plan with the hows and whys felt too easy and very convenient, and it just didn’t fit with the character’s coldness and the way they didn’t care about anyone. It was nice for us to know why and how things happened, but I do believe that the way it was presented to the readers was not the best. It was just an info dump from the villains so we could understand everything and move on.
There is a beginning of a romantic relationship in this book, but it’s not too heavy. Alice meets Sean, an alpha werewolf, at a bar one night, and what she expected to be a one-night stand turns into a temporary partnership as Sean helps her with her case, and something more when they decide to go on a date and see where it gets them. I usually enjoy paranormal romances more when there is some sexual tension, but since they had a one-night stand and then decided to try to go on a date, there was not much sexual tension left. As for the chemistry between them, there is a little something, but I didn’t feel it that much. They are both attracted to each other and work well together, but I can’t say that they have a great connection, or that they are meant to be together.
I get that Alice has a traumatic past, and she is used to being on her own and not trusting anyone. But she somehow trusted Sean enough to allow him into her super secret basement after knowing him for only a few days, and she put on a magic show to impress him. That felt out of character, but I can deal with this weird decision-making issue Alice had for an evening.
There is also a hint of a love triangle in the last part of the book, and while I do not mind well-done love triangles, I didn’t particularly enjoy the way the author developed the situation between Alice and the 2 men here. Alice Is trying to build a relationship with Sean, and suddenly, Charles, the vampire, starts to take more room in the plot and seems to be attracted to her when it was never shown or mentioned before that they were close or that he seemed attracted to her. Alice seems to believe that Charles has ulterior motives, and I do hope this is the case because otherwise, the development of this particular relationship was too fast and underdeveloped to feel real and believable. That being said, I would not be opposed to Charles being more involved in the series, and even in Alice’s romantic life (because who doesn’t like a dashing, refined, and powerful vampire?), I just wish the author had taken the time to better develop this aspect of the book.
For a first book in a paranormal series, this was interesting and entertaining, but it lacked a little something to make it really good or gripping. I will still read the next book because I enjoyed it enough to want to know what happens next. I imagine that Alice’s past will catch up to her eventually, and I am eager for it because it will mean dark magic, tension, secrets revealed, and a lot of action.
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✅ Age gap (about 15 years I think, she’s in her mid-twenties and he’s 42)
✅ Magic
✅ Plot / Investigation
✅(🆗) Pace
✅(🆗) Resolution of the investigation
✅(🆗) Main character
🆗 Hint of a love triangle
❗️❗️Trigger warnings: deaths of parents (past), blood and sacrifice for magic ritual, deaths, people burning, mention of past torture
Alice Worth fled her grandfather’s cabal a few years ago after faking her death, and she now works as a mage private investigator (MPI). When she is contacted about stolen books, Alice decides to take the case, because it seems simple enough, but as soon as she enters her client’s home, she realizes that it is much more complicated than she realized, and it might also be really dangerous. Whatever was stolen is immensely powerful, and what started as a simple investigation to retrieve stolen goods turns into a mage hunt and life-threatening situations.
Alice pretends that she is only a middle-range mage, but it is made clear from the start that she is super powerful, and people would kill to get their hands on her and her power. That being said, I still feel that the real MVP here was her ghost, Malcolm. For the first 75% of the book, he is the one taking down the dangerous wards and replacing them when Alice is busy doing something else, he comes up with the new spells Alice needs for her investigation and even does some recon work for her since he is invisible, on top of saving Alice’s life. I feel that he did all the heavy lifting, but she was the one portrayed as the badass mage nobody should ever cross.
The magic and the investigation part of the plot were good, but the ending, while having action and tension, fell a little flat for me. The culprits are eventually caught, but the way they just explained every detail of their evil plan with the hows and whys felt too easy and very convenient, and it just didn’t fit with the character’s coldness and the way they didn’t care about anyone. It was nice for us to know why and how things happened, but I do believe that the way it was presented to the readers was not the best. It was just an info dump from the villains so we could understand everything and move on.
There is a beginning of a romantic relationship in this book, but it’s not too heavy. Alice meets Sean, an alpha werewolf, at a bar one night, and what she expected to be a one-night stand turns into a temporary partnership as Sean helps her with her case, and something more when they decide to go on a date and see where it gets them. I usually enjoy paranormal romances more when there is some sexual tension, but since they had a one-night stand and then decided to try to go on a date, there was not much sexual tension left. As for the chemistry between them, there is a little something, but I didn’t feel it that much. They are both attracted to each other and work well together, but I can’t say that they have a great connection, or that they are meant to be together.
I get that Alice has a traumatic past, and she is used to being on her own and not trusting anyone. But she somehow trusted Sean enough to allow him into her super secret basement after knowing him for only a few days, and she put on a magic show to impress him. That felt out of character, but I can deal with this weird decision-making issue Alice had for an evening.
There is also a hint of a love triangle in the last part of the book, and while I do not mind well-done love triangles, I didn’t particularly enjoy the way the author developed the situation between Alice and the 2 men here. Alice Is trying to build a relationship with Sean, and suddenly, Charles, the vampire, starts to take more room in the plot and seems to be attracted to her when it was never shown or mentioned before that they were close or that he seemed attracted to her. Alice seems to believe that Charles has ulterior motives, and I do hope this is the case because otherwise, the development of this particular relationship was too fast and underdeveloped to feel real and believable. That being said, I would not be opposed to Charles being more involved in the series, and even in Alice’s romantic life (because who doesn’t like a dashing, refined, and powerful vampire?), I just wish the author had taken the time to better develop this aspect of the book.
For a first book in a paranormal series, this was interesting and entertaining, but it lacked a little something to make it really good or gripping. I will still read the next book because I enjoyed it enough to want to know what happens next. I imagine that Alice’s past will catch up to her eventually, and I am eager for it because it will mean dark magic, tension, secrets revealed, and a lot of action.
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September 13, 2020
First read: 06/2017 - 5 stars
Re-read: 09/2020 - still 5 stars!
It's books like this one that remind me of why I love Netgalley so much. Who knows how long it would've taken me to stumble across this little gem otherwise?
I was a haunted house, and not the fun kind you visited on Halloween for cheap thrills. The scars on my back were nothing compared to the ones on the inside.
This book was perfection - action, mystery, romance, magic, humor, characters.
Let's start with the latter, shall we?
Alice Worth, the heroine and narrator: sarcastic, funny, bad-ass galore, independent, proud, damaged, amazing. I adored her so much
Sean Maclin (love the name!), the love interest: hot alpha werewolf, protective, easy-going, a little bit nerdy, charming, determined. I wanted to devour him.
Malcolm, the wisecracking sidekick: recently deceased mage ghost, sweet, powerful, skittish and sooo endearing. I wanted to hug him.
Charles Vaughan, the... um... antagonist? .. nah, not really, I just don't know yet what to make of him: powerful, businessman vampire "whose ulterior motives have ulterior motives", inscrutable, delectable. I need more of him.
Actually, I need more of all of them!
This book has a certain Ilona Andrews vibe going on, what with the rather trashy cover, Alice being a sassy, kick-ass PI working on a mystery case, the swoon-worthy alpha hero who gives a good chase for the woman he wants, all the magic and excellent world building... It's not hard to guess where Lisa Edmonds got her inspiration from. But that's all she took from Andrews: inspiration. This is not a carbon copy but a very unique story and characters that will steal your heart.
The humor was exactly my kind, subtle and cynical, the banter was hilarious and there wasn't a moment I felt bored.
"You're pretty good at this private investigation thing. Maybe you should be the PI and I should be the wisecracking assistant."
"That would work, except your jokes suck," Malcolm quipped.
I still can't believe this is the authors debut novel. Her writing is brilliant and refreshing and she's one of those who know how to show instead of just telling.
This book left me happy and giddy and so incredibly impatient for the next in the series.
Hurry up, please! I can't wait to see what awaits Alice and her adorable entourage next.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 9, 2021
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Unsure How I Feel*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. Normally, I would have loved having such a cold and emotionless main female character as I've many times been called those two thing before, but for some reason I just didn't connect with Alice. A part of me didn't like her. Maybe it was her treatment to people around her? Or how she thought? I'm an emotional person, however, I emotional inside and hide a lot, while Alice is both inside out cold. I dunno. Perhaps it was just wrong time reading it? Who knows. What I do know is that And what the fuck is up with the blurb spoiling something that happens at the end of chapter 23/beginning of chapter 24? Overall, I will try to read book two in the hopes that me and Alice can connect more as the story itself was interesting enough. The book is heavily focused on magic and mages rather than vampires and werewolves. They are more on the sidelines. I did like Sean though, but I need more from him. Didn't like Charles all that much.
The characters:
The list is long so I've put it in a spoilers tag.
Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Adult) Urban Fantasy (M/F)
Series: - Series, Book One.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - Sean Maclin.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Yes.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Unsure.
Will I read this again in the future? - No.
Rating - 3 (weak) stars.
July 28, 2017
This book starts out fast! As in once you open your kindle, don’t plan on getting any sleep. From the very beginning this story is constantly in motion. There is no down time, no moment that you might think you can close it and take a break.
Alice has a past that she has gone to great lengths to keep hidden. As a powerful mage she is a prize to those who would use her for their own gain. Running her own private investigation business, she takes on a case of a young woman who thinks she’s being poisoned by someone in her family. Man, once Alice steps into it all kinds of magical mysteries erupt.
Along the way is a whole cast of characters that I gave the side eye to because I didn’t trust anyone. But then again, neither did Alice. However, when Sean enters the scene, I begged Alice to set aside her distrustful nature and give him a chance. And she does. To a point. That point being very limited initially but gaining in strength as the story progresses.
Alice is one tough heroine who has learned to take care of herself and refuses to lean on anyone. Sean is an alpha hero who just wants to protect her and keep her. However, if he wants her, he’s got to let her have her independence. It’s a fine balancing act for him. I absolutely loved both of these characters. Usually the tough heroine can get on my nerves but I totally understood where Alice was emotionally. There was one part where I had to grit my teeth because she wasn’t thinking clearly at all.
This ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, which I detest, and a happy for now regarding Sean and Alice. I loved the story and the writing is incredible, but dang I hate it when an author does a cliffhanger. I definitely would read more from this author but I hope future books will be wrapped up and not left open ended.
ARC provided by NetGalley
Heroine POV
Safe from other women drama
No apparent triggers
Alice has a past that she has gone to great lengths to keep hidden. As a powerful mage she is a prize to those who would use her for their own gain. Running her own private investigation business, she takes on a case of a young woman who thinks she’s being poisoned by someone in her family. Man, once Alice steps into it all kinds of magical mysteries erupt.
Along the way is a whole cast of characters that I gave the side eye to because I didn’t trust anyone. But then again, neither did Alice. However, when Sean enters the scene, I begged Alice to set aside her distrustful nature and give him a chance. And she does. To a point. That point being very limited initially but gaining in strength as the story progresses.
Alice is one tough heroine who has learned to take care of herself and refuses to lean on anyone. Sean is an alpha hero who just wants to protect her and keep her. However, if he wants her, he’s got to let her have her independence. It’s a fine balancing act for him. I absolutely loved both of these characters. Usually the tough heroine can get on my nerves but I totally understood where Alice was emotionally. There was one part where I had to grit my teeth because she wasn’t thinking clearly at all.
This ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, which I detest, and a happy for now regarding Sean and Alice. I loved the story and the writing is incredible, but dang I hate it when an author does a cliffhanger. I definitely would read more from this author but I hope future books will be wrapped up and not left open ended.
ARC provided by NetGalley
Heroine POV
Safe from other women drama
No apparent triggers
November 2, 2021
This definitely has a bit of a Kate Daniels knock-off feel, but it’s a really good one at that (Magic Bites is the first in that beloved series if you don’t know what I am talking about). Similarities include: heroine is living a secret life to hide from her super powerful relative, heroine has blood magic, her love interest is an alpha shifter, and the heroine is a private detective of sorts. So I’m definitely not imagining the similarities. But with that said, I did enjoy all the differences too -there’s a ghost side kick, glimpses of her terrible past, and the somewhat competing love interest. So count me in for book #2.
August 18, 2020
As a beginning of a series, this is pretty entertaining. I won't hold the nitpicks against it and I hope this is going to be a series.
Alice Worth is an MPI - a magic private investigator - in a world where humans live alongside other supernatural beings like mages, shifters and vampires. Certain group of mages are like criminal syndicates. Alice Worth is not the real name of the protagonist and she isn't some low level mage as she appears when someone tries to read her. She is hiding from her past that involves illegal blood magic and horrendous acts.
The story here follows the usual pattern of a PI stories. Alice accepts a job to find some stolen property, which turns into something way more worse. Everyone around her is going to learn new things, from her young client to a ghost who appeared out of nowhere. The ghost Malcom's story just starts here; it's not finished.
Now, as for the romance,
There are a lot of open endings here (the FBI agent and his interest in Alice and her business, Malcom's story, Sean and his family, and the most important of all her own past), but the main case Alice is trying to solve is finished.
I'm definitely going to read the next book. This one was fun. I liked it.
Alice Worth is an MPI - a magic private investigator - in a world where humans live alongside other supernatural beings like mages, shifters and vampires. Certain group of mages are like criminal syndicates. Alice Worth is not the real name of the protagonist and she isn't some low level mage as she appears when someone tries to read her. She is hiding from her past that involves illegal blood magic and horrendous acts.
The story here follows the usual pattern of a PI stories. Alice accepts a job to find some stolen property, which turns into something way more worse. Everyone around her is going to learn new things, from her young client to a ghost who appeared out of nowhere. The ghost Malcom's story just starts here; it's not finished.
Now, as for the romance,
There are a lot of open endings here (the FBI agent and his interest in Alice and her business, Malcom's story, Sean and his family, and the most important of all her own past), but the main case Alice is trying to solve is finished.
I'm definitely going to read the next book. This one was fun. I liked it.
October 28, 2021
4 1/2 to 5 stars
***
Just putting this here for future reference:
*** From the Ashes (Novella) takes place two years before Heart of Malice, and can be read at any time.
https://www.lisaedmonds.com/recommend...
Not sure why this has suddenly become NOT A BOOK on GR when there are other shorties that are considered books. I enjoyed it and it's worth reading as part of this series.
The link to my review for From the Ashes can be found here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
***
Just putting this here for future reference:
*** From the Ashes (Novella) takes place two years before Heart of Malice, and can be read at any time.
https://www.lisaedmonds.com/recommend...
Not sure why this has suddenly become NOT A BOOK on GR when there are other shorties that are considered books. I enjoyed it and it's worth reading as part of this series.
The link to my review for From the Ashes can be found here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
January 3, 2022
Easily four stars for an exciting, fast-paced adventure with well-realized characters and a heavy emphasis on magic, of which there are five kinds: earth, water, fire, and air magic are apparently trumped by blood magic, which is capable of much greater destruction than the four elements can offer. The main character and first-person narrator, Alice Worth, has "mid-level" earth and air magic and keeps her super-powerful blood magic a deep, dark secret from everyone, for a very good reason.
From age six to twenty-six her ferociously evil grandfather, who heads one of the cabals that resemble mafia organizations enhanced with magic, not only kept her in strict slavery and used her as his pet assassin but inflicted hideous tortures on her at great length. When she finally escaped, she moved across the country and assumed her new identity as Alice Worth, "a licensed private investigator and a registered earth and air mage."
As such, she has a dicey relationship with SPEMA, the Supernatural and Paranormal Entity Management Agency, and prefers to bring demonic offenders to the much more frightening vampire court. But she lives in constant fear that her grandfather will be able to trace her, and she even casts an obliterating spell whenever she sheds any of her own blood.
She teams up with a ghost named Malcolm who's a refugee from a similarly harsh master, and she has a fling with an alpha werewolf named Sean who develops an abiding interest in her and saves her life from time to time. And she steps very carefully in her dealings with Charles Vaughan, a powerful vampire who of course runs a vampiric night club. All four of these characters are portrayed with considerable depth and actually have arcs of development through the course of the novel.
Less successful, I thought, is the characterization of Alice's new client Natalie Newton, whose grandmother left everything to her instead of dividing her estate among her offspring. Natalie hires Alice because she's afraid she's being poisoned by one or more of her aunts, uncle, or cousins, but Alice soon discovers that the grandmother was a powerful mage who left lethal wards on her private study. Not only did Natalie, innocent thing, not know anything about that but powerful fire magic suddenly erupts from Natalie, who has no idea how to control it.
Things get complicated and dangerous very quickly, and before long a lot of blood is going to be spilled. The action in this adventure is practically drenched in blood, and here comes that blood magic! Malcolm the ghost recognizes Alice's blood magic from the beginning, but can she keep it secret from the others? Will she have to use it, and can she use it without leaving a trace that her grandfather could find? This was a real page-turner, and strongly recommended.
Just a note: there are a couple of flashbacks with graphic descriptions of the torture Alice endured in her grandfather's cabal, but the flashbacks are printed in italics, so you can recognize them and skip them if you prefer.
From age six to twenty-six her ferociously evil grandfather, who heads one of the cabals that resemble mafia organizations enhanced with magic, not only kept her in strict slavery and used her as his pet assassin but inflicted hideous tortures on her at great length. When she finally escaped, she moved across the country and assumed her new identity as Alice Worth, "a licensed private investigator and a registered earth and air mage."
As such, she has a dicey relationship with SPEMA, the Supernatural and Paranormal Entity Management Agency, and prefers to bring demonic offenders to the much more frightening vampire court. But she lives in constant fear that her grandfather will be able to trace her, and she even casts an obliterating spell whenever she sheds any of her own blood.
She teams up with a ghost named Malcolm who's a refugee from a similarly harsh master, and she has a fling with an alpha werewolf named Sean who develops an abiding interest in her and saves her life from time to time. And she steps very carefully in her dealings with Charles Vaughan, a powerful vampire who of course runs a vampiric night club. All four of these characters are portrayed with considerable depth and actually have arcs of development through the course of the novel.
Less successful, I thought, is the characterization of Alice's new client Natalie Newton, whose grandmother left everything to her instead of dividing her estate among her offspring. Natalie hires Alice because she's afraid she's being poisoned by one or more of her aunts, uncle, or cousins, but Alice soon discovers that the grandmother was a powerful mage who left lethal wards on her private study. Not only did Natalie, innocent thing, not know anything about that but powerful fire magic suddenly erupts from Natalie, who has no idea how to control it.
Things get complicated and dangerous very quickly, and before long a lot of blood is going to be spilled. The action in this adventure is practically drenched in blood, and here comes that blood magic! Malcolm the ghost recognizes Alice's blood magic from the beginning, but can she keep it secret from the others? Will she have to use it, and can she use it without leaving a trace that her grandfather could find? This was a real page-turner, and strongly recommended.
Just a note: there are a couple of flashbacks with graphic descriptions of the torture Alice endured in her grandfather's cabal, but the flashbacks are printed in italics, so you can recognize them and skip them if you prefer.
September 20, 2017
Heart of Malice is a great debut for Lisa Edmonds. The storyline was pretty creative and so full of action that you can't really be bored with the story. I think it's pretty funny that one of my favorite characters is a ghost! Malcolm the ghost had me quite entertained throughout this book. I loved Sean, the werewolf. He was a great Hero. He was protective but not overbearing. He genuinely just wanted to spend time with Alice and help her. Alice was a harder character for me. She is hiding a past and has never been able to trust, so I get why she was so standoffish, but I did want to shake her a few times. I was intrigued by her powers. Overall, this was an entertaining story and I look forward to the next one. ARC provided by NetGalley.
June 9, 2018
Read again a year after before grabbing book 2. I really liked it the second time around too.
It will not win any brownie points for originality, but it was a decent read that grabbed me. I look forward to reading the second book.
September 15, 2017
Amazing new urban fantasy.
April 11, 2020
4.5
“There were all kinds of books: books that educated, books you read at the beach or on planes, books that sold bad advice…and books that could level whole cities.”
Well done Urban Fantasy is still my favorite genre, but as the years go on, after I read more so many that were subpar or overdone, and as the market has become saturated, finding new favorites is harder. This one was great fun and the whole series (I’m caught up on it) is a delight. This one pushed a lot of my generic I-Like-UF Buttons.
The MC is a powerful woman with a lot of secrets. She investigates, has morals, and is sarcastic without having a massive chip on her shoulder. I love when the MC has secrets that take forever to reveal and is a mystery that everyone wants to solve. Another plus is the magic blending with the MC is unique and not something you see in other Urban Fantasies in quite the same way.
The world-building was nifty with an assortment of paranormal critters, councils, each with their own wags, agendas, and shake peace treaties. The vampire world is dark and gritty, the shifter violent and secretive, the magic unbalanced and screwed up (scary), the police involved with their own investigations that land them in hot water and eye the heroine of the story.
Tension and secrets remain, not resolved from multiple stories, kept me glued with tension. The story held a worthy enough mystery for an urban fantasy opener while not drowning out the personalities of the players and relationship side-plots. There are actual investigation steps and stages.
We get a ghost sidekick. One that’s present a lot, has secrets of his own, and is involved with her powers. Another winning draw.
I adore the new boyfriend - an alpha werewolf. Also some interest from a shady vamp. Be still my hormones. There are some actual, genuine steamy scenes too. *fans self*
Cops can get in the way in some of these stories, but one of the best selling features of this story was the dicey relationship with a pretty cool human cop who sees and senses too much. That added even more layers that kept my interest.
If you’re in the mood for a new Urban Fantasy, I highly recommend this one. There’s a few books out and the books don’t take too long to be released.
“There were all kinds of books: books that educated, books you read at the beach or on planes, books that sold bad advice…and books that could level whole cities.”
Well done Urban Fantasy is still my favorite genre, but as the years go on, after I read more so many that were subpar or overdone, and as the market has become saturated, finding new favorites is harder. This one was great fun and the whole series (I’m caught up on it) is a delight. This one pushed a lot of my generic I-Like-UF Buttons.
The MC is a powerful woman with a lot of secrets. She investigates, has morals, and is sarcastic without having a massive chip on her shoulder. I love when the MC has secrets that take forever to reveal and is a mystery that everyone wants to solve. Another plus is the magic blending with the MC is unique and not something you see in other Urban Fantasies in quite the same way.
The world-building was nifty with an assortment of paranormal critters, councils, each with their own wags, agendas, and shake peace treaties. The vampire world is dark and gritty, the shifter violent and secretive, the magic unbalanced and screwed up (scary), the police involved with their own investigations that land them in hot water and eye the heroine of the story.
Tension and secrets remain, not resolved from multiple stories, kept me glued with tension. The story held a worthy enough mystery for an urban fantasy opener while not drowning out the personalities of the players and relationship side-plots. There are actual investigation steps and stages.
We get a ghost sidekick. One that’s present a lot, has secrets of his own, and is involved with her powers. Another winning draw.
I adore the new boyfriend - an alpha werewolf. Also some interest from a shady vamp. Be still my hormones. There are some actual, genuine steamy scenes too. *fans self*
Cops can get in the way in some of these stories, but one of the best selling features of this story was the dicey relationship with a pretty cool human cop who sees and senses too much. That added even more layers that kept my interest.
If you’re in the mood for a new Urban Fantasy, I highly recommend this one. There’s a few books out and the books don’t take too long to be released.
February 11, 2021
Heart of Malice is book one in the Alice Worth series by Lisa Edmonds. It’s full of magic and mystery.
This is a new to me author and after finishing the novel I was unsure on how I felt about it. It had things I liked and things I didn’t. What pulled me to this novel was the synopsis. It was intriguing and sounded like something I might enjoy.
We meet Alice Worth, a private detective (PI) who has fled her past, is in hiding, has some major powers and by chance finds herself linked to a ghost and will now have a sidekick for her investigations.
I like the magic and mystery that we get. Though things are much more complicated than expected and the investigation into some missing books turns into something more dangerous than Alice anticipated. Her and her sidekick find themselves dealing with darker forces that could put Alice in the limelight with people she wants to avoid.
The romance. Sean is a werewolf, but not any wolf. He’s an Alpha. I liked him, but I didn’t care for the quick one night stand that turned into something more faster then I think it should have. I was disappointed on how quickly things went. I was also dismayed in Alice when she turns on Sean the moment she hears something bad about him. It was unfair, harsh, and a bit too much. I really could have done without a romance in the story. It didn’t add anything for me. It actually took away from my enjoyment.
For the most part I had a good time. I did have a little trouble at the beginning getting into the story, but little by little I become more curious about Alice and the mystery.
There is a lot of open endings at the end of Heart of Malice like (the FBI agent and his interests in Alice, Malcom’s story, Sean and his family, and most importantly Alice’s past), but the main case is solved and finished.
Heart of Malice was an ok read and had a lot of cool ideas, but I’m not sure yet if I’ll read on.
Rated: 3 Stars
This is a new to me author and after finishing the novel I was unsure on how I felt about it. It had things I liked and things I didn’t. What pulled me to this novel was the synopsis. It was intriguing and sounded like something I might enjoy.
We meet Alice Worth, a private detective (PI) who has fled her past, is in hiding, has some major powers and by chance finds herself linked to a ghost and will now have a sidekick for her investigations.
I like the magic and mystery that we get. Though things are much more complicated than expected and the investigation into some missing books turns into something more dangerous than Alice anticipated. Her and her sidekick find themselves dealing with darker forces that could put Alice in the limelight with people she wants to avoid.
The romance. Sean is a werewolf, but not any wolf. He’s an Alpha. I liked him, but I didn’t care for the quick one night stand that turned into something more faster then I think it should have. I was disappointed on how quickly things went. I was also dismayed in Alice when she turns on Sean the moment she hears something bad about him. It was unfair, harsh, and a bit too much. I really could have done without a romance in the story. It didn’t add anything for me. It actually took away from my enjoyment.
For the most part I had a good time. I did have a little trouble at the beginning getting into the story, but little by little I become more curious about Alice and the mystery.
There is a lot of open endings at the end of Heart of Malice like (the FBI agent and his interests in Alice, Malcom’s story, Sean and his family, and most importantly Alice’s past), but the main case is solved and finished.
Heart of Malice was an ok read and had a lot of cool ideas, but I’m not sure yet if I’ll read on.
Rated: 3 Stars
February 23, 2020
Sheesh, I should just stop reviewing books because the amount of books I review is way less than the books I read. I was just about to purchase this based on the cover when I realized I have already read this book. I don't remember the details but I thought it was decent. So, 3.5 stars?
June 10, 2018
This counts towards my June CG Book Challange: Listen to an audible book
I was so put off by the cover art I kept passing on this book. So glad I finally read it.
I was so put off by the cover art I kept passing on this book. So glad I finally read it.
August 16, 2020
I was having so much fun damnit! I was WELL into this book and enjoying it! I liked the characters and I liked the world building and I liked the mystery! IT HAS A WEREWOLF BOYFRIEND FOR PETES SAKE. The odds were stacked in this books favor from the start.
And then. Came. Chapter. 25.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
SPOILERS NOW
then this bitch throws her relationship INTO THE TRASH COMPACTOR because her CREEPY vampire contact told her A RUMOR he had heard about her werewolf boyfriend?! The vampire who has EXPRESSED his desire to DRINK from her?? If that doesn't say 'conflict of interest' I don't know what does. AND THEN SHE LETS THE VAMPIRE TAKE THE BOYFRIEND 'into his custody' AS IF THATS A THING HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO.
And she STUBBORNLY refuses to talk to werewolf boyfriend afterwards.
I'm so mad I can't even focus. I had to skip to the end of the book to make sure it ended fine. It was, but the vampire is still a fucking creep but now his brand of creep is rape flavored. Yay.
This woman is so stupid its a MIRACLE she's survived this long. I can live with wrong, but I draw the line at stupid. Anyway I'm not gonna be reading the next book.
And then. Came. Chapter. 25.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
SPOILERS NOW
then this bitch throws her relationship INTO THE TRASH COMPACTOR because her CREEPY vampire contact told her A RUMOR he had heard about her werewolf boyfriend?! The vampire who has EXPRESSED his desire to DRINK from her?? If that doesn't say 'conflict of interest' I don't know what does. AND THEN SHE LETS THE VAMPIRE TAKE THE BOYFRIEND 'into his custody' AS IF THATS A THING HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO.
And she STUBBORNLY refuses to talk to werewolf boyfriend afterwards.
I'm so mad I can't even focus. I had to skip to the end of the book to make sure it ended fine. It was, but the vampire is still a fucking creep but now his brand of creep is rape flavored. Yay.
This woman is so stupid its a MIRACLE she's survived this long. I can live with wrong, but I draw the line at stupid. Anyway I'm not gonna be reading the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 29, 2024
GHR KICK Group Read Nov. 2023
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
To Slow
Prch Amz Jan. 27, 2021
3.5 Stars
It's basically well written but way to slow paced for me.
I wasn't overly impressed with the female mc. Though there were things I did like. There was to much that didn't do it for me.
Liked the side characters.
Liked Sean.
My other problem was this was very reminiscent of other books I've read by numerous other authors. That made it feel repetitive even though it wasn't.
I had really high hopes for this one. It's very much the 'Type' of story I like. But the slow pace, the lack of real intensity and the odd familiarity made it a No Go for me.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
To Slow
Prch Amz Jan. 27, 2021
3.5 Stars
It's basically well written but way to slow paced for me.
I wasn't overly impressed with the female mc. Though there were things I did like. There was to much that didn't do it for me.
Liked the side characters.
Liked Sean.
My other problem was this was very reminiscent of other books I've read by numerous other authors. That made it feel repetitive even though it wasn't.
I had really high hopes for this one. It's very much the 'Type' of story I like. But the slow pace, the lack of real intensity and the odd familiarity made it a No Go for me.
September 24, 2024
Story 4 stars. Narration 4 stars
This was book one in this series and the first book I’ve read by this author. Alice is a private investigator working with supernatural people, objects and her own powerful but mostly hidden magic. She had a horrible life at the hands of her cruel grandfather, escaped him and has made a new life for herself after a name change and plastic surgery on her face. She ends up with a ghost living with her. His magic is very strong and he’s still able to use it. She gets a new client whose grandmother has recently died. She was left the estate and is trying to take care of business for her grandmother. Alice goes to her home and it’s not long before she realizes that the young woman’s magic had been bound so she didn’t even know she had it. It gets complicated after that. There’s so much more that happens. Life and death moments of at least 3-4 different times for Alice. A romance with a handsome alpha wolf happens as well. Never a dull moment and I really loved the three main characters-this includes Malcom the sidekick ghost. There’s even a sinister vampire. I’m looking forward to reading/or listening to the next one. Recommended to paranormal romance/urban fantasy readers.
This was book one in this series and the first book I’ve read by this author. Alice is a private investigator working with supernatural people, objects and her own powerful but mostly hidden magic. She had a horrible life at the hands of her cruel grandfather, escaped him and has made a new life for herself after a name change and plastic surgery on her face. She ends up with a ghost living with her. His magic is very strong and he’s still able to use it. She gets a new client whose grandmother has recently died. She was left the estate and is trying to take care of business for her grandmother. Alice goes to her home and it’s not long before she realizes that the young woman’s magic had been bound so she didn’t even know she had it. It gets complicated after that. There’s so much more that happens. Life and death moments of at least 3-4 different times for Alice. A romance with a handsome alpha wolf happens as well. Never a dull moment and I really loved the three main characters-this includes Malcom the sidekick ghost. There’s even a sinister vampire. I’m looking forward to reading/or listening to the next one. Recommended to paranormal romance/urban fantasy readers.
November 23, 2021
3.5 stars
November 2, 2024
3.75
re-read
Great start to an urban fantasy series with a badass female lead!
I'm liking the world building where vamps, shifters, mages, and humans are all living together in the open. There are some anti-supernatural sentiments, and we also get some background on mages (and our h) and their power structure- called Cabals.
Which is where we meet our h, Alice, who has escaped from one of these Cabals- and is now set up in a different city with a new identity. She is a mage PI with some serious secrets and serious fire power.
When hired on to help a client find some missing books- she realizes that this 'easy' case helping a human with some stolen items-can turn into a complete firestorm with her relationships, hidden powers, and past all becoming a threat to her new life.
On to the next one ASAP!
re-read
Great start to an urban fantasy series with a badass female lead!
I'm liking the world building where vamps, shifters, mages, and humans are all living together in the open. There are some anti-supernatural sentiments, and we also get some background on mages (and our h) and their power structure- called Cabals.
Which is where we meet our h, Alice, who has escaped from one of these Cabals- and is now set up in a different city with a new identity. She is a mage PI with some serious secrets and serious fire power.
When hired on to help a client find some missing books- she realizes that this 'easy' case helping a human with some stolen items-can turn into a complete firestorm with her relationships, hidden powers, and past all becoming a threat to her new life.
On to the next one ASAP!
August 10, 2018
4/5; 4 stars; A-
Yay, what a great find. This is very well written urban fantasy. On to book 2.
Yay, what a great find. This is very well written urban fantasy. On to book 2.
March 20, 2020
I liked it but I want to write a full ass review when I finish the rest of the books. I have time now sooo on to the next one
September 19, 2023
This is actually a really great start to what looks to be a great UF series! The beginning had me wondering, but it didn’t take long for the top-notch storytelling to wrap me up and keep turning those pages. I know I’m a bit late to the party but awfully glad I’m here!
June 20, 2019
Wow. Just wow. What a wonderful gem. I was hooked from start to finish. At the ending I was holding my breath, and then literally burst out into cheering. Scared the absolute shit out of my cats.
FIRST OF ALL. The MC. Alice in short, is a mother fucking bad ass. You can really feel the weight she carries, her darkness. She's also not like the usual sarcastic MC you see often in urban fantasy. She keeps her cards close to her chest, and her trust issues feel 200% believable. Even her mannerisms reflect this. She is incredibly thoughtful, quiet, and has the ultimate poker face. Resourceful, Intelligent, Strong, and POWERFUL are only a few of the words I would use to describe Alice Worth.
The other characters in this story are equally enjoyable, the world building is fascinating and a gentle build up. They will give you heart break from time to time with their own personal demons, but worth every second.
The middle is a little slow and annoying, but it truly does pick up into something amazing. At times, the plot twists WILL give you whiplash, and honestly rocked me to my core. I found myself cheering for their happiness through the best of times, worst of times, and in-between times.
Fans of Kate Daniels, give this a go. You may really, really enjoy this.
Cheers, and may the Book Gods bless you.
FIRST OF ALL. The MC. Alice in short, is a mother fucking bad ass. You can really feel the weight she carries, her darkness. She's also not like the usual sarcastic MC you see often in urban fantasy. She keeps her cards close to her chest, and her trust issues feel 200% believable. Even her mannerisms reflect this. She is incredibly thoughtful, quiet, and has the ultimate poker face. Resourceful, Intelligent, Strong, and POWERFUL are only a few of the words I would use to describe Alice Worth.
The other characters in this story are equally enjoyable, the world building is fascinating and a gentle build up. They will give you heart break from time to time with their own personal demons, but worth every second.
The middle is a little slow and annoying, but it truly does pick up into something amazing. At times, the plot twists WILL give you whiplash, and honestly rocked me to my core. I found myself cheering for their happiness through the best of times, worst of times, and in-between times.
Fans of Kate Daniels, give this a go. You may really, really enjoy this.
Cheers, and may the Book Gods bless you.
June 6, 2018
Originally posted at SmexyBooks-http://smexybooks.com/2018/06/toris-t...
Alice Worth is a mage in hiding. Having escaped her grandfather’s powerful cabel after years of abuse, Alice is now a PI who takes on private cases while keeping a very low profile. When a young lady comes to her to help discover whose trying to kill her, Alice suddenly finds her world turned upside down as she acquires a ghostly sidekick, a werewolf boyfriend, and a vampire who wants more than friendship.
I picked up this story on a whim and am so glad I did. This classic UF tale offers readers the basics; a strong heroine whose dark past keeps her alone and always on the defensive, interesting magical powers, easy to follow modern world building, and an action-packed mystery fueled storyline with multiple plotlines designed to expand the world and main arc. Alice is the type of heroine I enjoy in UF. She’s stubborn, weary, fights for the underdog regardless of her own safety, and loves far too easy for all the betrayal she has suffered. There is a vulnerability to her that appeals to the fighter in all of us. Engaging narrative (though repetitive at times) and bold writing effortlessly incorporate Alice’s backstory into the main conflict as it reveals. The romance is more developed then one might see in UF though I had no issues there. I look forward to reading more of this world in the future. I hope Edmunds reveals more of Alice’s past and the events that shaped who she is today.
Grade: B
Alice Worth is a mage in hiding. Having escaped her grandfather’s powerful cabel after years of abuse, Alice is now a PI who takes on private cases while keeping a very low profile. When a young lady comes to her to help discover whose trying to kill her, Alice suddenly finds her world turned upside down as she acquires a ghostly sidekick, a werewolf boyfriend, and a vampire who wants more than friendship.
I picked up this story on a whim and am so glad I did. This classic UF tale offers readers the basics; a strong heroine whose dark past keeps her alone and always on the defensive, interesting magical powers, easy to follow modern world building, and an action-packed mystery fueled storyline with multiple plotlines designed to expand the world and main arc. Alice is the type of heroine I enjoy in UF. She’s stubborn, weary, fights for the underdog regardless of her own safety, and loves far too easy for all the betrayal she has suffered. There is a vulnerability to her that appeals to the fighter in all of us. Engaging narrative (though repetitive at times) and bold writing effortlessly incorporate Alice’s backstory into the main conflict as it reveals. The romance is more developed then one might see in UF though I had no issues there. I look forward to reading more of this world in the future. I hope Edmunds reveals more of Alice’s past and the events that shaped who she is today.
Grade: B
October 7, 2019
Gotta Have Romance With a Kick Group Read October 2019 BOTM
4 stars
It took me a bit to get into the book, it’s not that they action doesn’t start right off it’s just that the writing style wasn’t the quick type. A bit more involved and detailed. Not a bad thing though but it took me a bit longer than usual to get those foundational chapters read.
But once the story got going, it got going and hooked me right in. There’s the right amount of mystery and intrigue. I don’t exactly agree with Alice’s reactions, but based on the background history we have from her, I’m definitely more understanding.
The romance is interesting I’m hoping we don’t have a Jacob and Edward issue here. But I suspect that things aren’t exactly what they seem with regards to Charles. But I do think that there’s a mate connection between Sean and Alice like, and they haven’t said, a destined mate style. The reactions she has alludes to this BUT the story hasn’t made any mention of a “for you” type mate.
Anyways I did enjoy this and look forward to reading the next one.
4 stars
It took me a bit to get into the book, it’s not that they action doesn’t start right off it’s just that the writing style wasn’t the quick type. A bit more involved and detailed. Not a bad thing though but it took me a bit longer than usual to get those foundational chapters read.
But once the story got going, it got going and hooked me right in. There’s the right amount of mystery and intrigue. I don’t exactly agree with Alice’s reactions, but based on the background history we have from her, I’m definitely more understanding.
The romance is interesting I’m hoping we don’t have a Jacob and Edward issue here. But I suspect that things aren’t exactly what they seem with regards to Charles. But I do think that there’s a mate connection between Sean and Alice like, and they haven’t said, a destined mate style. The reactions she has alludes to this BUT the story hasn’t made any mention of a “for you” type mate.
Anyways I did enjoy this and look forward to reading the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2017
4.5 stars
I like it ... a lot! AT first Heart of Malice seems like a typical Kick-ass mage heroine but Alice Worth is darker (in person) and harsher. I like that there's no long paragraph explaining tidbit or how magic works but we see them through Alice's adventure. Good plot interesting characters especially Alice. Confession...at first I think the book lacks emotion but since it's from Alice's POV and what i gather through is she was raised in to be a killing machine i think her POV suit. I like how Lisa balances Alice's personality: harsh by the past with what she want to be at present and in the future. She has emotion but just not whirlwind like we usually see in feisty hetoine but she is feisty no less just in her own way. There's a slow pace toward the middle of the book and the romance is quite arupt but when the shit is about to hit the fan....I'm so excited I have to take a break and after that? I can't seem to put it down. I'm definitely a fan now. C'mon book 2 !!!
I like it ... a lot! AT first Heart of Malice seems like a typical Kick-ass mage heroine but Alice Worth is darker (in person) and harsher. I like that there's no long paragraph explaining tidbit or how magic works but we see them through Alice's adventure. Good plot interesting characters especially Alice. Confession...at first I think the book lacks emotion but since it's from Alice's POV and what i gather through is she was raised in to be a killing machine i think her POV suit. I like how Lisa balances Alice's personality: harsh by the past with what she want to be at present and in the future. She has emotion but just not whirlwind like we usually see in feisty hetoine but she is feisty no less just in her own way. There's a slow pace toward the middle of the book and the romance is quite arupt but when the shit is about to hit the fan....I'm so excited I have to take a break and after that? I can't seem to put it down. I'm definitely a fan now. C'mon book 2 !!!
December 4, 2020
We are introduced to Alice Worth, a mage PI who is hiding from her past. She’s hired by Natalie who believes that something was stolen from her grandmother’s library that she recently inherited. Alice and her sidekick ghost, Malcolm, determine it was a powerful magical object that must be tracked down before it falls into the wrong hands.
I seem to be on a kick lately with magical private investigator novels. I liked this one. Alice’s world is interesting and she is pretty badass. There are vampire courts, mage cabals that enslave powerful mages, and of course, hunky shapeshifters. She’s also in an interesting position, trying to atone for a past by helping the people she comes across in her PI business, often at great personal risk to herself. It is clear that the author is going to try to get Alice to open herself up to the characters she has surrounding her. It should be an interesting process.
I seem to be on a kick lately with magical private investigator novels. I liked this one. Alice’s world is interesting and she is pretty badass. There are vampire courts, mage cabals that enslave powerful mages, and of course, hunky shapeshifters. She’s also in an interesting position, trying to atone for a past by helping the people she comes across in her PI business, often at great personal risk to herself. It is clear that the author is going to try to get Alice to open herself up to the characters she has surrounding her. It should be an interesting process.
March 17, 2020
This was a solid start to a new series. I liked it quite a bit - the cast of characters was solid, and interesting.
I'll admit that when I read the blurb for the next book, I'm kind of afraid I'll like it less and less as I go on. The FLC had some flashbacks to some over-the-top horrifying abuse in her past, and it upset my stomach. I like scary stuff, and I am fine with stories where people recover from abuse, but I'm not a fan of what I call "torture porn" - think movies like Saw or Hostel - and I won't be able to tolerate her inevitably being back in the bad guy's clutches if she gets tortured like that again. I have a visual imagination, and people being skinned alive makes me gag, whether that's in a horror movie or a book. It's too much.
So heads up on that. You get a light bit of it here via flashback, but it definitely looms large as future problem.
I'll admit that when I read the blurb for the next book, I'm kind of afraid I'll like it less and less as I go on. The FLC had some flashbacks to some over-the-top horrifying abuse in her past, and it upset my stomach. I like scary stuff, and I am fine with stories where people recover from abuse, but I'm not a fan of what I call "torture porn" - think movies like Saw or Hostel - and I won't be able to tolerate her inevitably being back in the bad guy's clutches if she gets tortured like that again. I have a visual imagination, and people being skinned alive makes me gag, whether that's in a horror movie or a book. It's too much.
So heads up on that. You get a light bit of it here via flashback, but it definitely looms large as future problem.
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